Pühajärv — bathing-water quality and weather
Bathing-water quality
Latest EU monitoring assessment: Excellent (2022)
10-year quality trend (2012–2022):
Data: EEA Bathing Water Quality (CC-BY 4.0) · Health Board bathing-water monitoring · EEA: EE00504004PYHAJ
5-day forecast
Hourly forecast
Latest measurements (2025 season)
Latest test: 2025-08-06
E. coli: 40 CFU/100 ml
Enterococci: <10 CFU/100 ml
Assessment: Vastab normile
5 measurements this season — see all
| Date | E. coli | Enterococci | Assessment: |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-08-06 | 40 | <10 | Vastab normile |
| 2025-07-23 | <10 | <30 | Vastab normile |
| 2025-07-02 | <30 | <10 | Vastab normile |
| 2025-06-04 | <10 | <10 | Vastab normile |
| 2025-05-14 | <10 | <10 | Vastab normile |
Beach
The Pühajärv bathing beach lies on the lakeshore in Põlva County. It is in the Elva area — 19 km south of the town. Water cleanliness has remained excellent over 11 years of monitoring. The Otepää weather station is 2.3 km away. Periodic water monitoring is carried out under the supervision of the Health Board (EU Bathing Water Directive).
- Coordinates: 58,0432° N, 26,4690° E
- County: Põlva County
- Bathing-site type: lake water
Local climate
| Month | Avg °C | Avg high °C | Avg low °C | Precip mm |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | -4.6 | -2.6 | -6.9 | 48.6 |
| Feb | -4.9 | -2.5 | -7.5 | 46.2 |
| Mar | -1.2 | 2.1 | -4.5 | 40.3 |
| Apr | 5.4 | 9.6 | 1.1 | 45.2 |
| May | 11.1 | 15.3 | 6.4 | 62.0 |
| Jun | 15.7 | 19.5 | 11.4 | 85.4 |
| Jul | 18.0 | 21.6 | 14.0 | 75.5 |
| Aug | 16.8 | 20.4 | 13.2 | 84.9 |
| Sep | 12.0 | 15.2 | 9.0 | 57.9 |
| Oct | 6.1 | 8.5 | 3.9 | 68.1 |
| Nov | 1.3 | 3.0 | -0.5 | 59.8 |
| Dec | -2.8 | -1.0 | -4.8 | 48.9 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the bathing-water quality?
The latest Health Board bathing-water measurement (2025-08-06): E. coli 40 CFU/100 ml, enterococci <10 CFU/100 ml. EU Bathing Water Directive long-term classification: excellent.
When is the best time to swim?
The swimming season usually lasts from early June to late August. The warmest month, July, averages 18.0°C, and the water is warmest in the second half of July.
How warm is the water in summer?
Lake water usually warms to 18–22 °C in midsummer, and more in shallow shoreline water. You can see the current water temperature on puhub's water layer.
Is Pühajärv a safe place to swim?
Pühajärv is an official, EEA-registered bathing beach whose water is monitored by the Health Board. There may not be a permanent lifeguard, so swim in the marked area and watch the weather.